§ 45. Mr. Swinglerasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the widening gap in time between the submission of reports to the heads of Departments of State and the reaching of decisions on the recommendations made; and if he will draw the attention of Ministers to the need to combat this tendency and to reach early decisions at all levels of government when proposals have been submitted.
§ The Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden)I certainly do not accept the view that Her Majesty's present Government take longer than any of their predecessors to reach important decisions of policy, whether on recommendations of advisory bodies or otherwise.
The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs not the Prime Minister aware of the increasing number of subjects which are alleged to be under comprehensive review in Government Departments? Is he not aware that Ministers are constantly evading questions by alleging that subjects are under comprehensive review? Will not the Prime Minister draw the attention of some Ministers to some subjects, such as compensation for mining subsidence or local government reform., which have now been under comprehensive review for more that five years? It is not time we had some decisions?
§ The Prime MinisterTo take the first of the hon. Member's points, which, I agree, is important, it has been under review since 1949, including two and a half years of Labour Government.—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That is quite true.